Just read this load of tripe... It would be great if we could somehow organise a formal response, pointing out that cyclists riding two abreast was well within the law in all states of Australia, and the reason police do nothing about it is because no ,laws are being broken. Furthermore, Garfield Tce, is a narrow two lane road with very little footpath and no safe place for cyclists other than in the traffic lane. Oh, its a 40km/h zone, so if he's held to 30km/h big f@#k'n deal!

Your paper’s journalist/opinion writer Daniel Meers’ “declaration of war” on cyclists in the Gold Coast Bulletin uses an unfortunate phrase more suited to shock-jocks. Given the dangers exposed in the recent 2DayFM prank disaster – maybe your journo should be more careful with his words, because “declaring war” and “Motorists need to start manning up” (sorry ladies) incites violence as a solution.

We are sorry Daniel takes “about five minutes to drive three kilometres to a friends place” for a jog. Only 36 kph average speed – oh no! Given a 50kph speed limit and a few stops for traffic lights – that is actually a pretty fair clip.

The popularity of bike riding on the Gold Coast will continue to grow because the Gold Coast is a great city with active people who like to ride. Riding is great exercise, good fun, and simply the most efficient way to get from one place to another for trips of less than 5km.

Yes, some very keen riders do get out of bed at 5am to miss the traffic and to exercise before work. Most would see this as wonderful and healthy – overwhelming international evidence point to great cost savings in reduced hospitalisation from obesity and sedentary based diseases in countries that have high cycle usage.

Having people riding bikes for transport and exercise saves us all money. Hospitals are expensive to build and run. Riding a bike is cheap and reduces congestion. It’s a win-win in the vast majority of cases.

Daniel’s article was light on facts and heavy with opinion. Some crackers:

His opinion: that cyclists wouldn’t use bike lanes and other facilities provided by Government and Gold City Council.

The truth: anywhere in Australia where safe cycling facilities are provided, cycling participation rates double or even more. Had he asked the state’s peak body we would’ve provided evidence of this – or he could look on Google. It is all there.

His opinion: Bicycles are a danger to road safety.

The truth: In societies with high bicycle use, the road toll declines. The more bicycles on the paths and roads, the safer we all are. People ‘get’ it and drive safely.

The Gold Coast is a fantastic place to live, visit and ride. That’s why people live there and ride. Police have enough to do without chasing a small minority of riders who do flout the law, and who endanger themselves far more than anyone else.

Unfortunately some riders do seem angry and even over-react – because they deal with bad attitudes from drivers who drive threateningly, blast horns and hurl abuse. Both should chill-out and enjoy the day.

Our message is to try to enjoy your life Daniel, and please, get a bike – your six kilometre round trip to run with your friend is part of the traffic congestion problem that is costing us all millions of dollars to ease, thorough our rates, taxes and car registration, which we all pay.

Motorists in Sydney and in Australia have 'manned-up' a lot, in fact the police have asked for calm on the roads twice in the last month due to a spike in road deaths.

This was obviously not heeded. Yesterday morning a 5 year old was run down, killed, trying to cross a road, in a school zone less than 300 metres from his kindy. It was also right at an intersection so you would think car doing 40km/h in school zone approaching an intersection might even reduce speed further??? No can do. Places to be, lives to take.

As the boys godfather pointed out, he did not want to walk to school he asked for a lift, but his mother walked with her two other kids. Another nail in the coffin of my son ever walking or riding to school, or anywhere else for that matter. Things just have to change.

Level of outrage over this incident? None. This is situation normal. The Queensland Police should also respond to this article.

Sydguy wrote:Motorists in Sydney and in Australia have 'manned-up' a lot, in fact the police have asked for calm on the roads twice in the last month due to a spike in road deaths.

This was obviously not heeded. Yesterday morning a 5 year old was run down, killed, trying to cross a road, in a school zone less than 300 metres from his kindy. It was also right at an intersection so you would think car doing 40km/h in school zone approaching an intersection might even reduce speed further??? No can do. Places to be, lives to take.

As the boys godfather pointed out, he did not want to walk to school he asked for a lift, but his mother walked with her two other kids. Another nail in the coffin of my son ever walking or riding to school, or anywhere else for that matter. Things just have to change.

Level of outrage over this incident? None. This is situation normal. The Queensland Police should also respond to this article.

JM

It seems as though that child may have ran out onto the road into the path of the car. Looks like a tragic accident not a case of negligent driving.

@Shred931 - Yup chalk it up to an accident. Totally unavoidable. What driver would expect a kid to run out in front of their car in a school zone at 8:40am 300 metres from the gate? He was due to get an award for coming first in his kindy class - probably in a rush to get to school.

So sad Australia is cool with kids dying on the roads. My son will not be walking/rideing/skateing the 1.5km to school, we'll get an SUV so he is safe.

This is probably why the clown in the OP drives to his mates place, 1.7kms away, to go for a run. People drive to the gym to get onto a stationary bike, or drive to Centennial Park in Sydney to ride around in circles inside the park.

Sydguy wrote:@Shred931 - Yup chalk it up to an accident. Totally unavoidable. What driver would expect a kid to run out in front of their car in a school zone at 8:40am 300 metres from the gate? He was due to get an award for coming first in his kindy class - probably in a rush to get to school.

So sad Australia is cool with kids dying on the roads.

JM

"It's believed the Audi, driven by a 42-year-old woman from the Kingsgrove area, was travelling at low speed as it attempted to negotiate a turn onto busy Kingsgrove Rd, which is a 50km/h thoroughfare"

Shred931 wrote:"It's believed the Audi, driven by a 42-year-old woman from the Kingsgrove area, was travelling at low speed as it attempted to negotiate a turn onto busy Kingsgrove Rd, which is a 50km/h thoroughfare"

this is the type of car involved, a Q5:the child would have stood a much better chance of survival in a low speed collision with a sedan which met European pedestrian protection regs. (almost all new cars sold in Australia would). this vehicle would be exempt however, as it is an SUV. the high bumper is an absolute killer for kids in this type of collision - with a lower profile bonnet on a car, the kid will more likely roll over the bonnet.

Shred931 wrote:It seems as though that child may have ran out onto the road into the path of the car. Looks like a tragic accident not a case of negligent driving.

I believe the entire reason that the speed limit is reduced to 40 in school zones is because that you can't rely on sensible behaviour from minors (under 18!!) near roads. If it is not negligent driving, why slow the cars down? I doubt this kid would have been hit at 40kmh given the intersection... the car was the problem, not the child.

You slow the cars down to 40 because they cannot respond quickly at 60. The car is a terrible vehicle to have around children of any age. A bike wouldn't have had the same issues as an SUV.

The driver can suffer the guilt - our driving rules place the onus of responsibility on the car because a pedestrian can't take measures to control the 2 tonnes of steel. Our school zone rules CLEARLY acknowledge the risk that a car presents to children. If the driver can't adapt to the riskier conditions in a school zone, then they should not be driving. It is not an accident when it is foreseeable.

Kenzo wrote:That's right - but you said, "the kid will more likely roll over the bonnet".... in this context - you're waaay off the mark.

maybe. what i should have said was that the crucial issue is whether the pedestrian's head takes a direct hit, or not. it's clearly more likely with a high-bonneted vehicle, such as this one. the head is sacrosanct - you may still die from chest or other injuries, but your odds of survival are almost always higher if you protect the head. (where have we discussed that before?)

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